ALL NOVEL chapter 90
90: Until the Parfait Arrives
“I know it’s tough. But… I want you to do my tax return.”
It was the beginning of a cold January, where the days were so cold that even the pain could be felt.
My grandfather’s hospitalization continued, and Milim’s stomach had swelled to the point where it was clear that “something” was there.
With various busy schedules piling up, I thought that I couldn’t handle any more appointments and decided to quit one thing I had been doing.
Being Karina’s secretary.
Thinking that it might be fine to just have a phone call at this timing, I contacted her. As expected, I received a typical response from Karina, so I thought, “I can’t do it unless I meet her in person,” and we decided to meet at a cafe near Karina’s parents’ house (which also serves as her workplace).
And then, this happened.
I had no choice but to repeat what I had been saying all along – consult a tax accountant.
“I understand, Rex… But I don’t want to be asked by a tax accountant who doesn’t understand my otaku hobbies about the purpose of handsome figures… I’d rather die…”
Just answer normally, like “It’s for my research expenses.”
Well, I understand her feelings… Or should I say, if I can’t show a certain level of understanding towards Karina’s feelings, our relationship should be over…
But I don’t know when my grandfather will become critically ill, and my wife is pregnant…
I think it’s the right time to gather some courage. Tax accountants are not that scary, you know.
“That’s not fair, Rex… I know it’s about a critically ill relative and your wife’s pregnancy… Even though I know there’s not a single card I can use against that…”
It’s unfair, but it’s the truth…
“What if I get pregnant?”
Well, all I can say is to do your best…
Do you have any plans?
“I hate bringing up real-life topics because they always end up going in a direction that’s inconvenient for me.”
At this timing, the coffee I ordered arrived, so I took a sip of my black coffee.
Nothing has arrived in front of Karina yet. I continue the conversation.
Oh, that’s right… Tax accountant. It’s kind of gray, legally speaking, for me to handle your taxes. If it gets exposed, it’s black.
I thought it would be bad to have any exchange of money, so I’ve been paying for yakiniku, but I can’t keep that up forever…
So, I think it’s about time to refresh our mood and start something new, don’t you think?
“Are you going to abandon me!?”
In the family restaurant on a day off, there were many families, and they all looked at us at once, then hurriedly averted their gazes.
I beckon Karina, who is sitting across from me, and lean in closer.
Stop using confusing phrases because people might misunderstand.
“Ah, sorry… But I’ve been leaving all the practical matters to Rex, so if I’m abandoned here, I don’t know what to do…”
That’s why I’ve been advising you to hire a tax accountant so many times…
Our conversation didn’t progress at all.
Lately, conversations with Karina always end up like this.
“…Hmm, I see. I’ll try doing it myself then.”
After several back-and-forth discussions, Karina finally seems to have made up her mind in that direction.
No, I told you to hire a tax accountant.
“Rex… I have a lot of stress when it comes to ‘making new acquaintances.’ It’s not about whether it’s necessary or not… For the sake of my mental health, I won’t ask a tax accountant for help.”
Our mentalities are so far apart that it’s like we’re from different planets.
I used to think that “as humans grow older, they naturally develop a more adult-like way of thinking.”
But looking at Karina and the others, it seems that in order to become an adult, you need to actively aspire to become one. Not everyone naturally becomes an adult.
Karina is already at an age where she can be called a “late twenties,” but she is still the same as she was in middle school.
Or rather, her appearance hasn’t changed at all. She has a bit more frills in her fashion, but why does she still look so youthful?
No, she has grown taller, and she must be wearing makeup, but still, she looks young.
Is it because of stress? Does she not have any stress because she lives honestly with her own feelings?
But her sleep is irregular in terms of both time and duration, she doesn’t have proper meals, and on top of that, she constantly has deadlines while consuming junk food and energy drinks. I can’t understand why she looks young…
“Okay, got it.”
Karina nodded abruptly while looking into the distance.
She was probably waiting for her order to arrive, observing the movements of the waitstaff.
“Lexus also has his main profession. I’m thinking of trying to become a tax accountant.”
I thought it sounded like the title of a video.
“If I were a more established manga artist, I would hire you as my assistant… but it’s all about money, huh… There’s nothing in this world that can’t be done with money… I want five quadrillion.”
Well, even if I were to be hired as an assistant, I don’t have any intention of making my occupation “manga artist assistant”…
I don’t want such an unstable and busy job.
“If Lexus hadn’t married by the age of 30, I would have hired him as a full-time househusband.”
Seriously… Was that an option…
But well, it’s still unstable… Before marrying Milim, there was no guarantee that I would become Karina’s husband and have a stable life… Hmm, it would have been worth it if I could see the future…
“Lexus’ life is like entering the route of the easiest heroine to conquer as a result of being somewhat positive towards all the heroines.”
It was an uncomfortably accurate analogy.
Well, let’s just be glad that I didn’t enter the Martin route.
“Ah, Martin-kun, I miss you. The one I hugged in a swimsuit, right?”
Did that really happen…
“Anyway, I’ll do my best too. If you ever want to chat or anything, feel free to talk to me. I’m sure you’re going through a lot right now, right? Having someone to have a casual conversation with is valuable, isn’t it?”
…
Though it may be rude, before I could express my gratitude, I was amazed that Karina noticed me.
I didn’t expect her to be capable of such consideration.
Furthermore, when she said, “Having someone to have a casual conversation with is valuable,” I myself realized for the first time the importance of such “casual conversations”.
During work, of course, I think about work, and when I’m at home, I inevitably think about my grandfather and the child that will be born. Certainly, I had lost the opportunity to have those relaxing conversations.
“Well, you know, if it’s serious all the time, the readers will feel suffocated, right? I draw manga too, so I understand that. That’s why I get it.”
Karina said that, seemingly unchanged since middle school. She might have changed after all.
People don’t just become adults on their own, but little by little, they stop being children.
“And when the baby is born, let me sketch it. Tell me about the baby episodes. And let me touch it. Apparently, a baby’s forearm feels really nice.”
There was definitely an ulterior motive.
Her confession of that ulterior motive might also be her way of offering such “casual conversations” in her own style.
She seems to be thinking about things more than she appears.
I thanked her and tried to leave the place.